Bad Knees!

[BigDev]

Hey whats up?
Have a question on legs. Finally started going back to the gym about 3 weeks ago. I think the cartilage is gone in my knees. Doing squats bothers me. Even just a warm up set. It feels like my knees are grinding. Doing leg presses I have no problem. I know nothing beats squats for leg developement. But Can I still get awesome developement just doing leg presses and hack squats? Thanks

 

[big_byrd52]

yes u can. when u do squats u need to be sure ur knees dont come over the center of ur feet. if the do spread ur feet out and sit back more. if u can do hacks u can do squats. get some osteo bi-flex. it takes about 2 months to kick in, but it makes a huge difference!

 

[BigBoyJ]

I agree with Big Byrd. Another thing you might want to try is smith machine squats. Put your feet out in front of you. It'll put your feet and knees in the proper alignment. It feels weird at first, but it's very effective once you get used to it.

 

[Vander_V]

you gotta squatt bro so either use wraps or do the smith machine as BBJ said , thats what i did and i now feel as if i feel it more on smith .

 

[asim]

I only lurk here but wanted to chime in on this.

Ive got cartilidge and ligament damage in my knees. I cannot squat, the three times I squatted in the past year all ended up with me injured and at physio for months to get back to being able to move my leg. My physiotherapist has told me the roughness of the cartilidge combined with pressure from the weight of squats causes my knees to become inflamed.

I know now not to touch squats. Only leg press and have started lunges.

You might want to rethink your leg workouts and get your knees checked out by a sport therapist.


Only my opinion. Others may give you different advice but only you can feel what your knees are like.

 

[BigDev]

Hey bros thanks for the info. I am going to see a sports doc next week. Better off getting it looked at know then later and the doc tells me I need replacement knees.

Thankjs again bro's

 

[DOGMA]

Unless you have experiences some sort of knee trauma or have some degenerative cartalidge or miniscus issues most knee pain from squatting is caused by poor form at least thats been my observation.

 

[big_byrd52]

i dont agree that u have to squat to make ur legs grow. some form of squat yes, but not free weight or smith squats. i can squat almost 900 pounds and my legs are my weakest/ smallest point. they did not start growing till i quit doing free weight squats and started doing hacks and horizontal leg sled for 12-20 reps.

 

[The Myth]

Important question.....

How long and how developed are your legs. If you have good genetics or if you have been training for years, it really doesn't take squats to get your legs developed a little more. I am 40 years old and been in the game 17 years. I have cut back on squats for over a year now and I have managed to add some size, much more definition, and density to my quads.